Brown's sports celebration tarnished by convicted rapist

Gordon Brown's attempt at celebrity schmoozing was further dented last night after it emerged that a convicted rapist had hosted a table at the prime minister's star-studded bash at Wembley stadium.

Mr Brown has asked party officials to investigate how Owen Oyston, a millionaire businessman, came to attend the Labour party fundraiser this week. Oyston paid £10,000 for a table at the sports-themed event, which aimed to raise £500,000 for the cash-strapped Labour party. Mr Brown has ordered the money to be returned to Oyston.

The Wembley get-together, attended by around 600 guests, had already run into trouble because some of those invited thought it was just a celebration of sport, with its connection to the Labour party apparently less than clear.

Cricket umpire Dickie Bird said he had only allowed his name to be used because he thought he was promoting sport for young people. Spin bowler Monty Panesar withdrew his name when he realised it was a party political event.

Officials explained that Oyston came to be at the fundraiser because invitations were sent out to football clubs, including Blackpool, which is owned by the Oyston family. The money he paid for a table, a donation to the Labour party, came from one of his personal companies.

Labour MP Stephen Pound, who attended the Wembley party but did not spot Oyston, said the news that he was there was "downright embarrassing. It is toe-curlingly awful. It has spoilt what was a good evening."

A spokesman for Mr Brown said: "Gordon Brown did not meet Mr Oyston. He was not made aware of his presence beforehand." The revelation of Oyston's attendance, reported by BBC's Newsnight programme yesterday, comes as Mr Brown seeks to promote a new moral purpose for his administration and to put the "loans for honours" scandal of Labour party fundraising behind him.

The event was attended by Tony Blair and figures from the world of sport, including Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson and the Newcastle manager, Sam Allardyce. It has been described as Mr Brown's attempt to ape the "Cool Britannia" glamour of Mr Blair's first year in office, when pop stars were invited to sip champagne at Downing Street.

Oyston was jailed at Liverpool crown court for six years in May 1996 for raping a 16-year-old would-be model. Trial judge Mr Justice McCullough described his offences as "horrendous".

Oyston raped the teenager at his isolated country home, Claughton Hall in Lancashire, in 1992. He was released after three and a half years.